The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Criticizing the City Council for what he calls "some crazy decisions" and saying the city is at fault for not anticipating $106 million in light-rail cost overruns, East Beach businessman Matt Hales announced he will run for the council in Ward 5.
Hales faces incumbent W. Randy Wright, who led efforts to bring light rail to the city, and Granby High School Assistant Principal Tommy Smigiel in the May 4 election.
Hales, an Annapolis, Md., native, moved from Virginia Beach to Norfolk in 2005 and was among the first residents in East Beach, a waterfront development in East Ocean View. He is co-owner of GVI Inc., a Norfolk-based engineering logistics firm that does work for the military. Like Smigiel, he has never run for political office.
Hales said his business expertise and his Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Maryland would bring a needed perspective to the council.
"The city hasn't given employees a raise in a long time," he said. "If that happened at my business, I would lose all of my good people. We have to find a way to give them raises."
Although he realizes light rail is being administered by Hampton Roads Transit, he said, the $106 million in cost overruns occurred because council members "didn't ask the right questions."
"We don't have business people on the council," he said. "We've got lawyers, doctors, funeral home directors and printers."
Wright said he met with Hales to ask him not to run.
"But Matt is his own person," Wright said. "I respect him for that."
Smigiel said he does not believe having another challenger in the race will make it more difficult to defeat Wright.
"The voters will see I'm the one with community ties and stands on the issues that best represent Ward 5," he said.
In Ward 4, Michael Muhammad said he has decided not to run and instead has endorsed incumbent Paul R. Riddick as well as all other incumbents. Muhammad met with Riddick for 90 minutes Friday.
"The councilman was well able to address many of my concerns," Muhammad said. "Although it was a difficult decision, I think it to be in the best interest of the people of Ward 4 to end my campaign efforts."
So far, 18 candidates have announced they will run for six council seats, the most since 1970. Candidates have until 7 p.m. today to file.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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How is your Councilman treating you?
A lot of people in Ward 5 have heard of Councilman Wright so he’ll probably get the majority of votes just because he’s the incumbent. If you are pleased with the way OUR City Council is operating and what it is doing for the city and its residents, fine. Vote for the incumbent. If you are not, VOTE THEM OUT! People, research your candidates and vote on who is best suited to act for their constituents! Get some new blood in the Norfolk political machine.
Hales for City Council
I'm glad to see Matt Hales running for Norfolk City Council. It's time for fresh, forward thinking on Council. He's a smart businessman who will address many issues that have long been ignored by Mr. Wright (and others). He also isn't the type who points fingers at others when something goes wrong (Mr. Wright and light -rail). I look forward to a council representative who'll help find solutions for problems like cost over-runs for light rail, flooding in Ocean View, addressing issues with our School Board/System and someone who has experience and good judgement with overall fiscal responsibility. It's time for change !
The more the merrier!
Let's just be thankful a third person is running. Many are not happy with Randy Wright and, heaven knows, they are afraid of electing someone whose only qualification is having been a "community activist". We all know what we got with the last elected "community activist". Smigiel is NOT qualified. Attending meetings and picking up trash does not qualify anyone to run a city. Those are things every responsible citizen just does without putting it on their resume.
I picked up trash too, am I a "community activist"?
"Attending meetings and picking up trash does not qualify anyone to run a city. " You say.
It shows something more. That you care about your community firsthand and it also says you're fully informed about the issues facing citizens.
And to clear up your confusion, the city council does NOT run the city.
The council hires OTHER people to do that like R.V. Williams and the numerous other $100,000+ department heads throughout the city of Norfolk. Our elected leaders are "supposed" to hold the hired help accountable when the job doesn't get done correctly.
That's the problem now. Too many city council members running interference with city staff when they shouldn't be.
Oh, and I picked up trash on the Norfolk city beach yesterday when I took my daily walk too.
On target
OVANNIE's comments are right on target. Interesting that the response was in the third person.
SAD
Mr. Wizard you are an angry little man. You should move out of Norfolk. You hate everything and everybody! Suggestion: try the west coast!!
Have a great day!
Been there, done that
"Mr. Wizard you are an angry little man. You should move out of Norfolk. You hate everything and everybody! Suggestion: try the west coast!!"
I have lived (and worked) on the left coast for many years. I even spent decades BETWEEN the coasts.
Mr. Wizard is neither angry nor little. I'll let you guess what gender I might be. And I don't hate everything and everybody OVANNIE.
I chose to move to Norfolk from Virginia Beach for many reasons. I love it here. I don't want to move. I want to make it a BETTER place for all.
Thanks anyway for your ad hominem attack. I hope you feel better now that you have lashed out. Mr. Wizard knows you don't mean it personally. You are just having cognitive dissonance with what I am purporting on these posts.
Mr. Wizard believes knowledge + experience = wisdom.
Everyday is an enlightened one. Maybe today is for you too.
Thanks OVANNIE for your response.
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If I were on council and I wanted to push something as detrimental to my constituents as the choo choo I’d want the dumbest of my comrades to be the front man. He’s disposable if necessary. Hopefully the voters will voice their displeasure.
c'mon, Clarence...
Do you really think they're that smart?
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Unfortunately, yes.